lewis



J. F. LEWIS.

LUBRICAIOR.

APPLICATION mzo {EB-7,1916.

Patented Aug.- 22, 1916,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F. LEWIS. l LUBRICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-7,19%. 1,195,695. Y PatentedAug. 22,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

as Arrrr ornroa.

JOHN F. LEWIS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-I-IALF TO CHARLES A. BAUMGARTNEB, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LUBRICATOR.

Application filed February 7, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. Lnwrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Phil adelphia, in the county of Philadelphla and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Lubricators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in lubricators, the object of the invention being to provide a lubricator for cylinders in which the lubricant is fed in the form of a vapor as it is thoroughly atomized by the steam to thoroughly commingle with the steam and effectually lubricate the engine.

A further object is to provide a lubricator which insures a heating of the lubricant as it is fed drop by drop through a sight feed chamber, and then atomized by the action of steam in its passage to the cylinder.

A further object is to provide a lubricator in which the steam maintains the lubricant at the necessary temperature for efieotive operation, and which relies upon the replacement principle as distinguished from the displacement principle which is the method under which all ordinary lubricators operate.

A further object is to provide alubricator in which pipes in the reservoir are entirely dispensed with, and water is fed directly into the top of the reservoir to replace lubricant which also passes through the top of the reservoir. 1 I

A further object is to provide a lubricator in which the feed of lubricant can be adjusted to suit conditions, and which insures a quick operation of the device even though cold when the operation begins.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1.

is a view in longitudinal section partly in elevation illustrating my improved lubri- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1216.

Serial No. 76,546.

screwed into .the top of the reservoir as shown at 3, and a condensing dome 4: screwed onto the head as shown at 5.

The reservoir 1 is provided in its top at one side of the head 2 with an inlet opening 6, through which the lubricant can be supplied to the reservoir, and it will be noted that this inlet is in a convenient position for filling the reservoir without disturbing other parts of the lubricator.

A plug 7 normally closes the inlet 6, and a waste cock 8 is provided in the bottom of the reservoir to drain the same. An inlet pipe 9 communicates with a steam pipe 10, and at its inlet end is provided with an upturned spout 11 to direct the steam and water into the inlet pipe 9, the lat-ter communicates with the upper end of dome 4, and is provided with a valve 12 controlling the flow therethrough.

The head 2 is connected by an outlet pipe 13 with steam pipe 10, and'said outlet pipe has a downwardly projecting discharge nozzle lt to direct the lubricant laden steam into the steam pipe in the direction of the steam passage. A throttle valve 32 con trols the flow of steam and lubricant from the lubricator through the outlet pipe 13.

A steam tube 15 communicates with inlet pipe 9, and directs the steam into an out let passage 16 in head 2. This outlet passage throughout the greater portion of its length is of substantially the same diameter as the internal diameter of tube 15, but at one end where it communicates with the dischargeend of tube 15, is enlarged forming a chamber 17 into which the nozzle end 18 of tube 15 projects. In other words, the chamber 17 provides an annular space all around the nozzle 18, and a port 19 in the head 2 connects this chamber 17 with a sight feed chamber 20 through which the lubricant is directed as will be hereinafter explained. The steam tube 15 in its passage through the dome 4 is of general compound curvature, and in the lower wall of said tube at a point in the curve where the tube will effectually drain, anopening 21. is provided so that water entering the tube will pass through the opening 21 into the dome.

A water passage 22 is provided in head 2, and connects the dome 4 with the reservoir 1. This Water passage 22 is controlled by a valve 23 which regulates the feed of water into the reservoir, and elfectually prevents operation of the lubricator when tightly closed.

A lubricant passage 24 is provided in head 2, at its lower end communicates with reser voir l, and at its upper end is provided with an upwardly projecting nozzle 25 whichextends into the sight feed chamber 20, and is adapted to feed the lubricant drop by drop through the sight feed chamber. This sight feed chamber is provided in opposite sides with lenses 26 which are held in place by tubular nuts 27 screwed into threaded openings 28 in the head, and are capable of ready removal when it isdesired to replace or clean the lenses.

A valve 29 controls the flow of lubricant through the passage 24-, and the operation of this valve regulates the feed of lubricant to suit conditions. The lubricant is indicated by the reference numeral 30, and water by the reference numeral 31, and it will be noted that the lubricant is on top of the water where it is maintained by means of its lighter specific gravity.

In operation, the water of condensation passes through the opening 21 in tube 15, until the water reaches the level of the opening, when all excess will pass through the tube and back into the steam pipe, yet a constant supply is maintained sufficient to insure a perfect operation of the lubricator and replace the lubricant as it is fed from the reservoir. The sight feed chamber 20 is full of water up to the level of the port 19, and can be filled whenever desiredby closing the throttle valve 32, and allowing the water to back up in the passage 16 and overflow through port 19 into the sight feed chamber.

It will be noted that the head 2 contains an appreciably great amount of metal which is kept hot by the passage of steam, and the water in the sight feed chamber 20 is kept at a reasonably high temperature so that the lubricant as it escapes from the nozzle 25 is heated, and is ready for rapid disintegration or vaporization when contacting with the steam escaping through the nozzle 18, so that the lubricant is thoroughly atomized and commingles with the steam, and efficiently distributes itself throughout the steam, so as to best perform the work for which it is intended. As each drop of lubricant escapes from the nozzle 25, a drop of water moves downwardly through the passage 22, and finds its way to the bottom portion of the reservoir below the lubricant, thereby replacing the lubricant as it escapes.

It will be noted that I dispense with all tubes in the reservoir, and instead admit the water to the top of the reservoir which insures the feeding of the last drop of lubricant and also permits a quick operation in starting, even though the lubricant is cold in the reservoir and in the passages.

When the operation is stopped, the throttle valve 32 is completely closed, and

water may accumulate so as to entirely fill the outlet passage 16 and tube 15. As soon as the throttle valve 13 is opened, this Water will flow outwardly with the incoming steam, and the excess of water in the dome 4% will escape through the opening 21. The heat of the steam will soon heat or melt a portion of the lubricant adjacent the top of the reservoir, and the feed will promptly begin, although the lower portion of the reservoir may be cold The several valves are so arranged as to permit a perfect control, and insure the feeding of the proper quantity of lubricant at all times.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within'the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lubricator of the character described, comprising a lubricant reservoir, a head secured to the reservoir and having a steam passage therethrough, a conduit in said head, and communicatingwith the top of the reservoir for directing water through the head into the top of the reservoir, and means in said head for conducting lubricant from the top of the reservoir into the steam passage, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a lubricant reservoir, a head secured to the top of the reser-' voir, a dome secured to the top of the head and having its bottom formed by the top of said head, a passage formed in said head communicating with the top of the reservoir and the bottom of the dome, a second passageway formed in said head, a steam inlet pipe extending through said dome, and communicating with said latter passage, and a third passage in said head communicating with the second-mentioned passage and the top of the reservoir, said steam pipe within the dome having an opening forming a passage for the water of con densation into said dome, substantially as described.

3. A lubricator of the character described, comprising a lubricant reservoir, 2. head on the reservoir having a steam passage therethrough, a condensing dome on the head having a steam pipe therein terminating in a nozzle, said nozzle extending into said steam passage, said steam pipe having an opening forming a drain for the Water of condensation from the pipe into the dome, said head having a passage communicating with the dome and opening directly into the top of said reservoir for conducting the Water from the dome to the reservoir, and means in said head for directing lubricant from the reservoir into the steam passage, substantially as described.

4. A lubricator of the character described, comprising a lubricant reservoir, a head on the reservoir having a steam passage therethrough, a condensing dome on the head including a steam pipe communicating with said passage in the head, a water conduit in said head leading from the dome and opening directly into the top of the reservoir, a conduit in said head for directing lubricant from the reservoir into the passage, and valves controlling the passage of Water to the reservoir and the passage of lubricant from the reservoir, substantially as described.

5. A lubricator of the character described, comprising a lubricant reservoir, a head on the reservoir having a sight feed chamber therein, a condensing dome on the head, a steam tube extending through the condensing dome, said head having an outlet passage communicating with the end of said tube, and having a port connecting the passage adjacent the tube with the sight feed chamber, a discharge nozzle in the sight feed chamber communicating with the top of the reservoir and through which lubricant is discharged, and said head having a water passage connecting the dome with the top of the reservoir, substantially as described.

6. A lubricator of the character de scribed, comprising a lubricant reservoir, a head on the reservoir having a sight feed chamber therein, a condensing dome on the head, a steam tube extending through the condensing dome, said head having an outlet passage communicating with the end of said tube, and having a port connecting the passage adjacent the tube With the sight feed chamber, a discharge nozzle in the sight feed chamber communicating with the top of the reservoir and through which lubricant is discharged, and said head having a water passage connecting the dome With the top of the reservoir, valves controlling the flow of water and lubricant through the head, lenses in opposite sides of the sight feed chamber, and tubular nuts holding the lenses in the head, substantially as described.

7. A lubricator of the character described, comprising a lubricant reservoir, a head on the reservoir, a condensing dome on the head, an inlet pipe communicating with the dome, an outlet pipe communicating with the head, a steam tube projecting through the dome into the head and having a bend therein with an opening in the bend, whereby the water of condensation passes from the tube through the opening into the dome, a valve water passage connecting the dome with the top ofthe reservoir, an outlet passage in the head communicating with the steam tube, and means for directing lubricant into said last-mentioned passage, substantially as described.

8. A lubricator of the character described, comprising a lubricant reservoir, a head on the reservoir having an outlet passage therein, said passage widest at one end, a steam nozzle projecting into the widest end of said passage and spaced from the Walls of the passage, said head having a sight feed chamber therein with an outlet port communicating with the Widest portion of 'said passage and at a point above the end of the steam tube, means for directing Water into the reservoir, and means for directing lubricant through the sight feed chamber into said opening, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a main steam sup ply pipe, a reservoir, a head secured to the top of said reservoir, a dome secured to the top of said head, a passage within said head, and means for connecting this passage with the main steam pipe, a steam pipe within said dome and leading into said passage in the head, an opening in said pipe, a passage in said head communicating with the first mentioned passage and the reservoir, means communicating with the latter steam pipe and said first-mentioned steam pipe, and said means including a spout having its opening turned in the direction of the passage of the steam in said main steam pipe, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. LEWIS. Witnesses:

RHODA E. GILLms, CHAs. E. Po'r'rs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

